The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries announced today that it’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program has removed in excess of 3,000,000 gallons of effluent from boats moored in the Commonwealth’s marine waters since its inception in 1994. One of the first states to provide free pumpout facilities for recreational boaters through the CVA, Massachusetts' harbors have put more pumpout boats in service than any other state. This extensive coverage, coupled with the many shore side stations placed in service, provide the infrastructure needed to achieve and maintain the goal of designation of the Commonwealth's coastal waters as a federal No- Discharge Area.

"Creating a system of free, convenient boat pumpout facilities at locations along our entire coastline has made a tremendous difference in the cleanliness of our marine waters," said Paul Diodati, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries. "The three million gallon milestone is a reminder of how valuable the pumpout program is to boaters, shellfish harvesters, swimmers and Massachusetts’ fish and wildlife that live in our marine waters."

In 1998, the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) awarded a "State CVA Excellence Award" to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. This award was given in recognition of the enlightened and innovative implementation of the CVA program in Massachusetts, involving the extensive deployment of a network of pumpout boats in the state’s coastal waters.

Grant funding is provided through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sportfish Restoration Program, and has averaged about $700,000 per year. The Division of Marine Fisheries administers these funds and reimburses up to 75 percent of the total project costs to cities, towns, and private marinas, for their pumpout facilities.

The public has shown great enthusiasm in cooperating with the CVA program and its goal of cleaner coastal waters. Free and convenient pump-outs have created an atmosphere where recreational boaters are no longer in search of locations to have their holding tanks pumped. There are currently 62 CVA funded pumpout boats, 45 fixed location shore side stations, and 14 operational dump stations available to the boating public. A user-friendly boaters’ guide is prepared and updated on an annual basis listing all locations for pumpout services and is constructed of Kimdura paper (a waterproof plastic paper) that will hold up under marine conditions. The guide can be found in most Marinas and Harbormaster’s offices throughout the state.

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